Hank Womble, a senior from Birmingham, Alabama in the School of Industrial + Graphic Design’s Industrial Design Program, received an Honorable Mention for his laundry basket design, the Shepard Basket, in the International Housewares Association 2017 Student Design Competition. Womble’s entry was among 297 from the 28 schools participating in the competition. He designed the basket in Professor Rich Britnell’s Fall 2016 “Advanced Product Design” fourth-year studio.

The prompt for the 2017 competition was “design an innovative housewares product that combines function and flair.” In response, Womble’s Shepard basket eliminates obstacles to transporting laundry and yet deviates very little from familiar processes. It offers simple clothing security and comfortable one-handed operation, making it more convenient to use. His project submission also had to demonstrate user and market research, design thinking, engineering drawings and tested prototypes. The competition’s rigorous requirements and judging process reflect real-world employer expectations. Click here for more.

“Hank did a great job addressing a common problem that many of us have. His concept would make the task of transporting laundry much easier,” says Britnell. “An honorable mention award is certainly an honor in such a prestigious competition.”